Tractor attachment for automobiles.



TRACTOR ATTACHMENT TOO AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED MAB. I0. l9l6.RENEWED FEB. 19,1918.

g., Patnted 11111111919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.l

Alu..

M. L. ADAMS.

TRACTOR ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

WIT/VESSES /IT/ VE N TOI? A NOR/11H8 Moaron mamans, or SEATTLE,WASHINGTON, assrenon rro .ananas rnac'ron. coureur, or seaman, wasnmoromn comona'rron or WASHINGTON.

TRACTOR ATTACJHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

a'aoaeau.

Specicaton oi Letters Patent.

Patented neu. ai, raie..

Application nledarcli 10, 1916, Serial No. 83,312. Renewed February 19,1918. Serial No. 213,174.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, MoR'roN L. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King andState of Washington,have invented a new and Improved rliractor Attachment for Automobiles,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

A prime object of my invention is to provide a practical attachment forapplication to an automobile in place of the rear wheels whereby todrive the automobile over snow and ice with the front wheels supportedon shoes or sleds or to propel the automobile on muddy, sandy,orisirnilar roads. lThis purpose of my invention isattained by a tractorinvolving a housing applicable to the usual axle housing and gear caseof the automobile, and a trame mounted n said first-mentioned housingand equipped with a tractor preferably oi the caterpillar type andtherefore comprising a belt and actuating means therefor driven from theaxle of the automobile, the said housing of the tractor attachmenthaving means preferably in the form of a torsion yoke or trame adaptedto be connected with the chassis.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear asthedescription proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification in ,which similar reference characters indicatecorresponding parts in all the views. v

Figure l is a diagrammatic view in side elevation or an automobilechassis having my invention applied thereto',

Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of one side of the tractorattachment, the attachment .being the same -on both sides of theautomobile; y

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on the lines 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4;

Fi n. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6 6, Fig. 3;

Fig. is a section on the line fr a, rig.

the line 8 8, Fig. 3.

My invention is applicable to an automobile of any of the standard makesof which the numeral 10 indicates the chassis. r1`he tractor attachmentreplaces the rear wheels but the front wheels, one of which ing of theparticular oar and conforming, as at 16a, with the gear casing 15E* orthe housing 15. IThe housing 16 also includesan extension support 16beyond the .yoke 16": The purpose of the housing '16 is primarily toprovide a means whereby the tractor attachment can be readily attachedto the axle casing, and furthermore serves to strengthen the axle 14 `sothat the additional weight can be carried.

A yoke or. torsion frame 17, hereinafter referred to as a yoke, which,it will be understood may be of any approved form, is se` 'cured at itsrear end tothe housing 16 and presents spaced side bars as best seen inFig. 2, one of said bars in the present example being secured to thehousing 16 by a clamp 18 and the other, or outer bar being secured tosaid housing 16 by a cap 19 which is suitably fastened to the adJacentarm of said yoke 17. At the forward ends the side bars of the yoke 17are brought together and provided with a rockable ball head 20,

tillA the side members of which are formed on the respective sidemembers of the yoke 17 and united as by a pin or screw 20a. rlhe ballhead 20 is retained rockably in a socket 21,* here shown as'formed on abracket 22 adapted to be bolted' 0r otherwisefastened to the adjacentside member of the chassis 10. A brace 23 may be employed in connectionwith the bracket 22 and provided with nuts for securing it to anyiixedmember 23B.. y

A frame 241 is hung at its center on the housing 16 so as to extend inthe front and rear of the said hgusing and the rear axle 14, said framebeing adapted to have a limited vertical rocking movement. Supported inthe frame 24 at the ends thereof, are idler wheels, 25, 26, over whichtravels the v tractor belt or apron, designated generally by the numeral27, and composed of hinged links 28. It is to y be observed that thelinks 28 are hinged closely together as clearly shown in Fig. 2 and thatthe hinges extend throughout the .w'idth' of the belt. The knucklejoints of the hinges are tight fitting and thus the entrance of dirtthrough the belt is ei'ectually prevented. Each link has rail portions28a which form tracks on the inside of the attachment. These tracks runin the grooved idler wheels. The tractor belt is thus prevented fromrunning on?. There'is a pair of wheels 25 at the rear end of the frame24 and a pair of wheels 26 at the forward end. The hubs of the wheels 25turn loosely on a shaft or axle 29 which is mounted in a block 30, saidblock being adjustable in openings 31 in the frame 24l by adjustingbolts 32 and nuts 32a. Simi'- larly, the front wheels 26 turn loosely'on an axle or shaft 33 adjustable in a slot 34a of a block 34, whichitself isv adjustable in an opening 35 in the frame 24. The adjustingmeans may consistV of bolts or screws 36 extending from the axle 33through a bushing 37 connected with the block 34 and'extending throughthe end of the frame 24, there being nuts 36a on the bolts 36 and nuts38 on the bushing. The frame 24 at the bottom of the openings 31, 35, isprovided with plates 24a, 24h, respectively secured by screws, 24C, 24d.

To cushion the frame 24 in its limited vertical rocking movements, theaxle 33 is received at its ends in blocks or sleeves 40 adapted to movein curved slots 41, which are formed in the yoke 17, said yoke beingenlarged at these points for the purpose as at 42. The slots 41 areclosed at the outside by cap plates 43 secured by screws 44, 0r thelike. The blocks 40 are cushioned bv coil springs 45 in the slots 41above and below said blocks, the said springs being received at theirends on studs, 46, 47, on the yoke 17 and axle blocks 40, respectively.

To actuate the tractor belt 27, a sprocket pinion 48 is provided, faston the shaft 14 within va casing 16b forming part of the housing 16. Achain belt 49 runs over the said sprocket wheel and over a .sprocketwheel 50 which turns on the block 30 as a bearing, roller bearings orball bearings 51 being provided in practice. In fixed relation to thesprocket wheel 50 isa sprocket wheel 52, and a chain belt 53 runs overthe said wheel 52 and over a similar sprocket wheel 54, which turns onthe block 34 as a bearing, therebeing roller bearings 55, or the like,in practice.

The connection between the actuating chain 53 of the tractor belt 27 andthe latter belt, is established by links 56," each' link being pivotedas at 57 toa link 28 of the belt 27. A slot and pin connection isestablished between the links 56 and the drive-belt 53, there beingslots 59 in the links ,and pins 58 on the chain 53. Between the pivots58 and the adjacent end of each link 56, said links are provided in theslots 59 thereof, with compression springs 60 so that a cushionconnection is thereby established between the chain 53 and the saidlinks.

The elements, 18, 19, on the side bars of the torsion yoke or frame 17are suiiciently loose on the housing 16 to permit of slight rockingmovement' independently of the frame 24 as necessary for the yoke toconform to the relative move-ments of the axle and chassis. .Thedescribed rockable mounting of the frame 24 adapts it to conform to roadconditions.

The tractor unit, it will thus be observed, is hung on the driveaxle ofthe automobile over its housing. It provides an effective propellingunit for sledding or driving the machine over sandy roads or the like,and one readily applicable to any automobile of standard make. Itsdirect association with the drive-axle and its flexible character makethe tractor unit sensitively responsive to the motor drive and thecontrolling means of the automobile, and at the same time it readilyadapts itself to road conditions, without check or interference with thesaid motor-drive and control.

It is to be observed from Fig. 8 that the housmg 16 extends beyond theaxle housing 15 so that the projecting end of the housing 16 directly tsthat portion of the axle 14 projecting beyond the housing 15, and thedrive sprocket 48 is disposed on the axle 14 directly adjacent to the:end of the housing 15 between the same and the opposed wall presented bythe housing 16h. The arrangement provides for slinging a tractor unithavlng a tractor belt of effective width and accommodates the actuatingmeans for said belt without inordinately increasing the total .width ofthe automobile with the tractor elements.

The adjustment of the bolts 32y serves to move the wheels 2 5, therebyadjusting the said frame on the housing 16 at each side of 130 incassa 4E the casing 16".v The opposite side members of said frame 24 areconnected by transverse bolts or screws 24 The numeral 61 indicatessuitable tread members, preferably resilient, secured to the respectivelinks 28 of the belt 27. The numeral 62 indicates a backing wheel oridler Vabove the lower run of the belt 27, said cal details hereinillustrated since manifestly the same can be considerably varied withoutdeparture from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

l; A tractor attachment for automobiles, comprising a transversehousing, a torsion yoke mounted at its rear end on the said transversehousing to turn thereon, means including a ball .and socket to connectthe front end of said torsion yoke with the chassis of the automobile, aframe rockably hung at its approximate center on the said transversehousing, transverse shafts on the said frame at the ends thereof, idlerwheels loose on said shafts, a tractor link belt running over said idlerWheels, sprocket wheels loose on said shafts, a chain belt running oversaid sprocket wheels, links connecting the chain belt with the links ofthe tractor belt, a driven sprocket wheel in fixed relation to one ofthe first mentioned sprocket wheels, a drive sprocket accommodated .inthe transverse housing and adapted to be received and be fixed on theautomobile drive axle adjacent to an end of the axle housing, and adrive chain running over the said drive sprocket and driven sprocket.

2. A tractor attachment for automobiles,

comprising a transverse housing, a torsionv yoke presenting side barsmounted at their rear ends on the said transverse housing, means topivotally connect the front'ends of said bars with the chassis of anautomobile, a frame rockably hung at its approximate center on saidfirst-mentioned housing between said torsion bars, wheels on said'second frame at the end, a tractor belt running over said wheels, andactuating means forsaid belt, said actuating means including a driveelement in the transverse housing adapted to receive and be made faston' the drive axle of the automobile and drive connections between saiddrive element and said tractor belt.

3. in a tractor attachment for automobiles, a longitudinally disposedAframe presenting s1de members, 'wheels on said frame near its ends, atractor belt on said Wheels,

means to sling said frame at its approximate center on the drive axle ofan automobile, said meansincluding a housing ,with a yoke, arranged toembrace the axle casing, an extension support integral with the yoke andin position to receive and support the drive axle beyond the axlecasing, a drive element xed on the drive axle in said yoke, and meansfor actuating said tractor belt from said drive element.

4. rihe combination with theI chassis, drive axle, and axle housing ofan automobile, of a transverse housing fitting and secured on the saidaxle housing and extending laterally beyond the axle housing, anddirectly fitting the drive-axle beyond the axle housing, a longitudinalframe having side members, one vof said side members embracing thesecond mentioned housing adjacent to the end of the axle housing andtheother side member embracing the second mentioned housing at theprojecting portion thereof, Wheels on said frame in the front and rearof the drive axle of the automobile, a tractor belt on said Wheels, adrive element on the axle adjacent to the end of the axle housing andwithin the projecting end of the second mentioned housing, vand means toactuate said tractor belt from said drive element. v

5, in a tractor attachment for automobiles, a housing rangingtransversely of the attachment and, arranged to fit on the exterior ofthe axle casing of an automobile and of a length to extend beyond thesaid axle casing,` a longitudinal frame ranging across the housing andhaving side members embracing at their approximate centers the saidhousing, one of said members embracing the housing over the axle casingand the other side member embracing vthe housing beyond the axle casing,side bars mounted at their rear ends on said housing outside of the saidlongitudinal frame, means to connect the forward ends of said side barswith the chassis of an automobile, tractor devices including wheels onthe longitudinal frame and a tractor belt on said Wheels, and means toactuate said tractor devices from the axle of the automobile.

6. A tractor attachment for automobiles comprising a frame; tractordevices including Wheels on said frame and a tractor belt on saidwheels; lmeans ,to sling said frame on the drive axle of an automobileover the drive axle casing, and means to actuate said tractor devicesfrom the said drive axle of the automobile, said actuating meansincluding a drive element in said frame in position to receive and fitover the drive axle beyond the outer end of the axle casing.

7. In a tractor attachment for automobiles, a ltransversely disposedhousing, a frame rockably hung at its approximate j center on the saidtransverse housing, a

center on the torsion yoke mounted at its rear end on the saidtransverse housing outside of the said frame, means to connect the frontend of said torsion yoke with the chassis of the automobile, tractordevices on said frame, and means rto actuate said tractor devices fromthe drive axle of the automobile.

8. In a tractor attachment for automobiles, a longitudinally disposedframe, means to sling said frame at its approximate center on the axleof an automobile, idler Wheels mounted to turn on said frame near theends, a tractor belt running over said idler Wheels, sprocket lWheels insaid frame adjacent to the loose lwheels, belt running over the saidsprocket Wheels, said belt being separate from the sprocket belt,connections between the chain belt and the sprocket belt, and means todrive one of said sprocket Wheels from the drive axle'of the automobile.

9. In a tractor attachment for automo-- biles,alongitudinally disposedframe, means to sling said frame at its approximate axle of anautomobile, idler Wheels mounted to turn on said frame near the ends, atractor belt running over said idler Wheels, sprocket Wheels in saidframe adjacent to the -loose Wheels, a chain belt running over the saidsprocket Wheels, said belt being separate from the tractor belt, andlinks connecting the said chain belt with the said tractor belt, theconnections between the links and one of said belts being slot and pinconnections.

10. In a tractor attachment for automobiles, a longitudinally disposedframe, means to sling said frame at its approximate center on the axleof an automobile, idler Wheels mounted to turn on said Jframe near theends, a tractor belt running over said idler Wheels, sprocket Wheels insaid frame adjacent to the loose Wheels, a chain belt running over thesaid sprocket wheels, said belt being separate from the tractor belt,slotted links pivotallyl connected at one end with the tractor belt,pins on the chain belt engaging in the slots of the said links, andcushion springs in the said links for the last-mentioned pins.

11. In a tractor attachment for automobiles, a longitudinal frame, meansto sling said frame at its approximate center on the drive axle of anautomobile, transverse shafts on said frame near its ends, blocksadjustable longitudinally ofsafid frame in which saidshafts are mounted,one of the shafts being adjustable relatively to the block in which itis mounted, and adjusting means engaging respectively, thelastnlilelioned block and the last-mentioned s a a chain 12. In atractor attachment for automobiles, a frame, means to .-rockably mountsaid frame at its approximate center on the drive axle biles, a frame,means to rockably mount said frame at its approximate center on thedrive axle of an automobile, transverselshafts on said frame, tractordevices and driving means therefor, said tractor devices includingWheels on said shafts and a belt running over said Wheels; longitudinal.bars at the sides of said frame, means to mount said bars at their.rear ends on the drive axle of the automobile, means to connectthe frontends of said bars with the chassis of the automobile, said into whichthe said shafts extend, and springs in said slots above and below saidshafts and engaged by the latter.

14. A tractor attachment comprising a housing arranged to be fitted onthe origin-al axle casing of an automobile to strengthen the automobileaxle for the support of said attachment, said housing including anextension support beyond the end ofthe axle casing, receiving the end ofthe automobile axle and acting as a support for a portion of saidattachment. j

15. In a tractor attachment, the combination with an axle casing and anaxle extending beyond the casing, of a housing arranged to be fitted onthe casing to strengthen the axle, said housing comprising a' yokearranged to accommodate a drivingelement of the tractor -attachment, andan extension of the housing Ibeyond the yoke, providing a bearing forthe end of said axle,`5aid housmg acting as attachment, at the sides ofsaid yoke.

16. The combination in a tractor attachment, consisting of an endlessdriving chain, a circumposed tractor belt having tracks, slotted linkswith pin connections to both belts, and grooved .idler wheels running onthe tracks to prevent lateral displacement of the tractor belt andconsequent undue wear on the link and pin connections.

, 17. A tractor attachment comprising a driven endless chain belt, anendless tractor belt spaced chain belt, and means {iexibly connectingsaid belts together for driving the tractor belt from the chain belt.

18. A tractor attachment comprising a a support for portirisof the sa ibars having curved slots from and circumposed on the resaca? to bothbelts and resilient means inwrpo-l l rated in the link slots, andgrooved idler wheels supporting the tractor belt at bothA ends, thetracks running in said grooves and preventing lateral displacement ofthe tractor |belt and binding in said belt connecting means.

19. A tractor attachment comsprising a pair of axles, a sprocket on eachof the axles,

a chain belt running over the-sprockets, means forA applying power tomove the chain belt, a tractor belt actuated by and traveling ina planeoutside of the chain belt, tracks on thetractor belt on the inside,idler the sprockets providing equal lateral supports for the sides ofthe tractor belt at both ends of the attachment and having groovedperipheries to receive the tracks and prevent the tractor belt fromrunning 0R, and plural flexible driving means joining the tractor andchain belts, said means enabling the exertion of a-pull on the tractorbelt from the chain belt at both ends.

20. ln a tractor attachment, the combina;r

tion of a tractor belt having tracks," a chain bel-t, members having pinand slot connections vvith both belts for driving -the fermer from thelatter, sprockets engaging the chain belt at both ends of theattachment,

grooved idler wheels receiving the tracks in the grooves to preventlateral displacement of the tractor belt relative to the chain belt, andto support the tractor belt independently of said sprockets, and groovedsheaves applied to the tracks of the lower strand between said idlerWheels to receive lateral thrusts and keep the lower strand straight.

In testimony Wherof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. wheels on each of the axles atthe sides of MORTON LEA ADAMS. Witnesses:

GUJBERT NAIRN, HENRY VC. GOODWIN.

